The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority is pleased to announce their support for two Congressional bills: Complete America's Great Trails Act, sponsored by Congressman Gerry Connolly; and National Capital Regional Land Conservation Act, introduced by Congressman Jim Moran. Both bills will likely result in more parkland.

National Capital Regional Land Conservation Act will create a $50 million matching fund to help park agencies expand parks within the National Capital Region. While introducing this legislation on Friday, June 19, Congressman Moran noted a special thank you to William C. Dickinson, former chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

"Bill grasped the idea of a regional conservation fund and found an ingenious and clever vehicle for granting the Park Service the authority to operate the program through the long dormant Capper-Cramton act," Moran said. "He has tirelessly recruited support for the bill."

In researching the history of land conservation efforts in the Metropolitan area, Dickinson found that much of the George Washington and Rock Creek Parkways, in addition to many other parkland areas, were purchased with the help of the 1930 Capper-Cramton Act. This new legislation from Congressman Moran would in essence re-authorize this old act.

Pat Noonan, Chairman Emeritus of the Conservation Fund said, "I commend the Congressman [Moran] for his leadership to conserve the Capital region's treasured landscapes."

Complete America's Great Trails Act (HB 1912) is being championed by Congressman Gerry Connolly. This bill would provide a tax credit to landowners who donated a public access trail easement on their land. This tax credit would apply to lands within a half mile of the Potomac River, which is a National Scenic Trail corridor. Trails consistently rank as the most popular park amenity in public opinion polls. This bill would help complete the Potomac National Scenic Trail.

If passed, these bills will greatly add to the parkland and park amenities of the National Capital Region. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority owns nearly 13 miles of Potomac River frontage, and anticipates completing another land acquisition this fall that will add an additional half mile of Potomac River parkland. Most of NVRPA's parkland is along the major rivers and areas which supply much of the drinking water to Northern Virginia.